Yellow Labrador Dog.

Will our yellow labrador ever be happy?

Question.
We purchased Lucy, a four-year-old Yellow Labrador, in March 2003. She was a little timid but fine with the breeder. From day one it was hard. I had to lift her before she would go into the garden or for a walk. Her eyes seem very sad and her body language is withdrawn. My vet said that apart from some mange she was OK physically and it could take months for her to come out of herself. He advised contacting a behaviourist.

I have not let our yellow labrador off her lead except in the garden. She does not explore but stays in her basket. She does not come to us, and cowers if approached.

She is very nervous and jumps at sudden sounds but takes no notice of fireworks or thunder! The breeder says she was exercised in their fields and was used to people but not to being in a house.

My children love dogs and Lucy lets them stroke her, but is not at ease. She lets my husband and I stroke her and takes treats from us. After her evening walk, she now goes straight to the lounge from the front door. This is the only time she goes into the lounge. There she will sit and take treats. She does not come when we call, and gives nothing back to us. I feel Lucy may need a oneto-one environment where her owners can devote 100 per cent of their time to her. I don't want to send her back to the breeder.

Answer.
What a sad tale. We cannot tell why your yellow labrador Lucy is behaving in this way but while it is important to recognize she is taking time to adjust, it probably is not helpful to sympathize too obviously with her. Try to treat her as normally as possible and reward any evidence of outgoing behaviour.

It sounds to me as if she is suffering from a form of grief. Perhaps she had to leave a particular friend behind or was previously very bonded to someone or some place. It is also likely that she spent most of her life at home and was not too well socialized as a puppy. Her sudden change in circumstances has catapulted her into a very different world.

When she does adjust she will be able to recognize her improved circumstances but at present life is very strange. I am not convinced that this dog needs either a trainer or a behaviourist except in as far as training in the use of her natural, Labrador abilities might prove a distraction for her. I am not by any means an expert on alternative therapies but if it was my dog I would be looking at Tellington Touch, Bach Flower Remedies and possibly EFT or hands-on healing as a means of helping her to become a happy dog again.

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